Display case



Oct. 11, 1932-.

M, 1... w 'BsTER DISPLAY CASE fil1ed March 2. 1951 INVENTOR JM L. Wasen- TTORNEY Patented a. 11, 1932 .Umrs- STATES DISPLAY cAsEf Application filed March 2,

My invention relates to improvements in display cases, and the object of my improvement is tofurnish a case of simple and inexpensive construction, relatively strong, and having certain collapsible or foldable parts to contract its volume for space saving shipping purposes.

Another object of my improvements is to build the structure of a minimum number of parts for labor saving manufacture, and to shape those parts in a manner whereby they may be readily assembled and interlockingly secured together to provide a relatively rigid construction when made from 1 F light inexpensive material, such as fiber board or the like. 7

These objects I have successfully accomplished in actual reduction to practice by the means which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1

V is a medial vertical longitudinal section of my improved shipping and display case as extended. Fig. 2 is an under plan view thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are plans of'the two structural elements of said case before bending and folding. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the case as collapsed for shipping or storing purposes.

Fiber board, plain or corrugated in structure, is used very generally for the construction of shipping or display cases, being cheap and adapted for more or less temporary use while being relatively strong when the construction is well braced and connected. Other materials may be employed, however, in the structure covered by my invention, and thus will not depart therefrom.

My invention herein constitutes improvements upon my United States Patent No. 1,460,185, dated June 26, 1923, for a contractible display and shipping case. 7

My improved case is assembled from but two planar members shown in F igs. 3 and 4E, preferably of corrugated but may be of plain sheet fiber board. The sheet or member 1 is oblong and is transversely creased at a number of places 2 in either single or double lines.

The sheet 3 shown in Fig. 3 has apair of 'shapedsp aces 12, sothat the flaps10 are.

to'be described, in the cdnstitutiii'g oft'lie com- 18s1, Serial nasiaees.

like transverse slits ltffro m' its longer 1011+ gltudinal edge, equally spaced from its mid dle and terminating inwardly at apartial longitudinal crease 15 which also terminates therewith. The slits 14', however,- are 'con tinned across the sheet by creases for bendingpurposes." From the inner ends ofthe slits la-"the end p'artsof the sheetat'? are creased obliquely outwardly at 8, and parallel to said creases 8 the end portions or. surfaces at 6 are further creased in doubled lines Qobliquely at 9, also for bending and, folding purposes. -The opposite ends of the sheet 3 are shaped alike but in relatively reversed positions, by cutting, to provide. a plurality 1 of slightly oblique tongues or flap parts 10,

with one oblong longitudinal fiap'13, on each end of the sheet. The flaps 10' are transversely creased-atll doubly for folding over pur poses, and the flaps are separated by wed ge diminished gradually outwardly to straight endsor'terminations Said slits 14-, and the creases 1'5', .8, 9; and 11 therefore serve as bounding 'means for bending; folding or otherwise, the partst, 5, 7 6, and 16 and terminations of the flaps, into separate areas or wall partswhich are tobe mechanically associated respectivelywith different areas or parts ,of the other sheet 1, in a, manner pleted case'shown in Figs." 1, 2 and 5.

As'shown in said Fig; 1, the oblong sheet 1 at its'respective transverse single or doubled creases 2 is bent or folded to provide a plu rality of steps 18 with raised front walls,'the first front wall having'a. folded over reinforcing flap part 17, secured by cementing'or by clips 19 together. i The rear vertical part 19 forms at'the same time the rear wall or riser-for each step 18 but projects above the next successive step and-is folded over to thus provide the next succeeding front wall for the latter step. Therear wall, part 19 for'the laststep in succession is wider than the other risers and is folded over rearwardly in a flap 21 and secured by cementing or by clips 22 to the upper margin of the top part 1 of the other sheet 3.

The sheet 3 is bent at right angles at the lob slits 14 and their creased continuations transversely, opposing the end parts 6 and 16 to the ends'of the steps and walls 18 and 19 contactingly. The parts 16 are then bent over along the doubled line creases 9 inwardly and foldingly with their tabs or flaps 10 then bent over along the doubled creases 11 under and to contact with the under faces of the step parts 18 except the foremost step, and cemented, pasted or stapled thereon as shown in Fig. 1. The flap 10 next'to the flap 13 is bent over and cemented or stapledto the 7 upper surface of the foremost step 18, and

the oblong flap 13 "is bent over inwardly in each case and inserted between the folded parts of'the foremostwall 19 and its inwardly ,turnedfiap 23 as shown at 23 in Fig. 1 where the endsof the flap 17 at 23 are spread enough for the purpose. The case is thus completedand in extended position. The triangular parts 7 of the side walls 6 are bendable along the creases 8 inwardly against or nearly to the rear angles of the steps, and the rear wall part 5 then swung bendingly at the crease 15 against the parts 7, to collapse the case with its rear parts approximately parallel with the front inclined edges of the side walls 16. In this collapsed condition, the cases may be stowed in piles in a minimum space for storage or transportation.

The compartments thus provided along the steps 18 may be used to receive parcels of goods or other things in convenient segregation. 7 I

The two sheets- 1 and 3 may be stamped out by machinery," so that construction is expedited and rendered inexpensive, and the flaps 10 and 13 are secure means for fastening the parts of the case together, and with little labor cost, while thestructure is of maximum strength against crushing. I

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;

A display case of the character described, composed of strips of suitable material V shaped, cut and secured together, one strip being rectangular bent, folded at places upon itself to provide aseries of relatively inclined compartments, the other strip being cut transversely in places, bent in other places and having projecting end tabs to be secured to the compartments, said other strip also providing certain walls for the compartments and a part thereof between said transverse cuts serving as an easel support for the case.

hinged thereon to collapse thereagainst for shipping or storage purposes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MELVIN L. WEBSTER. 

